Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky

Gualala Arts will present a multi-faceted performance entitled
"Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky"
on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00 p.m.

It features singing, dancing, instrumental music, and a world premiere. Performers include Ancora of Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir, members of the Anchor Bay Choral and Dance Project, and the Anchor Bay Children's Choir, the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers, and Karl Young on shakuhachi.

Marty Regan

The highlight of the concert will be the world premiere of a new composition for shakuhachi, hand bells, treble soloist and children's choir by composer Marty Regan, who is well known for being one of the leading composers of music for combined ensembles of Japanese and western instruments.

The title of the new piece is "Homework." The words are from a poem of the same title by the Japanese poet Tanikawa Shuntaro.

Mr. Regan is originally from Long Island, New York, and currently teaches at Texas A & M University.

On the program will be a special performance by Robert Geary's vocal group Ancora, which is part of the award-winning Piedmont East Bay Children's Choir and was the inspiration for his wife, Sue Bohlin, starting the Anchor Bay Children's Choir. Both Geary, who founded the Piedmont Choirs, and Bohlin have worked for the East Bay organization for over 27 years.

The Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers, named after the composer grandfather of local resident Sita Milchev, delights in playing in a wide variety of musical styles. Singing is an important part of the bell ringers' programs, as there are many excellent vocalists in the group, and the audience is often invited to sing along.

Local musicians often join the bell ringers, including clarinetist Eric Kritz and Karl Young on shakuhachi. They are a community bell-ringing group who meet every Monday at 5:00 p.m. at the home of Rick and Jeanne Jackson.

The shakuhachi is a Japanese bamboo flute originally played by the Komuso, who were priests of the Fuke-Shu sect of Zen Buddhism, who wandered Japan during the Edo period (1600-1868). The shakuhachi is currently played in a variety of Japanese classical and folk settings as well as in various forms of western music. Along with playing the traditional repertoire, Karl Young also plays jazz and frequently joins in with local musicians. Karl is a physicist at the University of California, San Francisco and lives part time in Gualala with his artist wife, Suzan Friedland.

Karl Young and the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers will also perform several songs together, including the haunting "Le Ping" and "Amazing Grace" with the singing bells technique.

The Anchor Bay Choral & Dance Project,
a Gualala Arts workshop, will start Monday August 29 at 4:00 pm. and is for girls 8 years old and up to grade 12. It will include one hour of hip-hop dance with Melissa Newhall, instructor, and Joselyn Malik, assistant, and one hour of singing, in particular to learn the choral part to Mr. Regan's new piece, "Homework." The workshop will take place at Gualala Arts Center and will end October 24. Tuition for the 9 week session is $200 for Arts Center members and $220 for non-members. A limited number of partial scholarships are offered if registering early. Call 707-884-1138 to participate.

Tickets for the October 30th show are $15 advance,
$5 more on the day of the performance. Youth 7 to 17 will be admitted free.
For advance purchase, go to
Brown Paper Tickets
or call them at 800-838-3006.
To purchase in person, visit the Gualala Arts Center or Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.

Bell Ringing in the Empty Sky

Gualala Arts CenterOctober, 2011

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The Gualala Arts Center, located at 46501 Old State Highway in Gualala, CA,
is open weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and weekends from noon to 4:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-1138 for more information, or email
info@gualalaarts.org.

Join us in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Gualala Arts, 1961 - 2011